Pressure is on to decide future of Grey Hosiery Mill

The Grey Hosiery Mill is located on Grove Street and 4th Avenue, and has long been a subject of local debate. Hendersonville City Council will be discussing how the property should be redeveloped at its meeting Thursday.

Published: Thursday, March 6, 2014 at 4:30 a.m.

Last Modified: Wednesday, March 5, 2014 at 6:42 p.m.

Hendersonville leaders will be asked to take up a subject of long debate during a City Council meeting Thursday — the future of the Grey Hosiery Mill property. But this time, a sense of urgency fills the air as a state tax credit that enticed prospective developers in the past is set to expire later in the year.

Hendersonville City Manager John Connet plans to update the council on discussions he has had with groups interested in redeveloping the property, noted to be the last remaining relic of industrial buildings within city limits.

Preservation North Carolina, a nonprofit statewide historic preservation organization, and a new prospective developer have both shown interest in the property, according to Connet.

Preservation N.C. has built a reputation across the state and nation for promoting and protecting historic properties. The group has a knack for connecting decaying properties, whose dreams of development have fallen through the cracks, with developers who give the sites new life, according to Connet.

He plans to advise council members on the steps the city would need to take to transfer the property to Preservation N.C., if the board wishes to take that route.

According to an appraisal of the property submitted to the city in January, developers would be able to receive state and federal tax credits of 50 percent for a “certified rehabilitation” of the property. The state tax credit of 30 percent, however, will sunset this year.

The appraisal showed that the fair market value of the property with its buildings onsite is around $600,000 or about $730,000 for the land stripped of its buildings.

City Council will also consider a request from Beverly Hanks Realty, a new business at 512 N. Main St., to lease nine parking spaces in the city's Apple parking lot. City staff recommends moving spaces for the Hendersonville Police Department from the Apple lot to the City Hall lot, a move that would eliminate nine metered spaces which staff says are “underutilized by the public.”

The Blue Ridge Bicycle Club is also set to appear before the council to present a plan to designate Fourth Avenue as a “bicycle boulevard.” Connet is asking the council to delay action on the proposal until its April meeting.

The council meets at 5:45 p.m. in the council chambers of city hall. The public is invited.

<p>Hendersonville leaders will be asked to take up a subject of long debate during a City Council meeting Thursday — the future of the Grey Hosiery Mill property. But this time, a sense of urgency fills the air as a state tax credit that enticed prospective developers in the past is set to expire later in the year. </p><p>Hendersonville City Manager John Connet plans to update the council on discussions he has had with groups interested in redeveloping the property, noted to be the last remaining relic of industrial buildings within city limits.</p><p>Preservation North Carolina, a nonprofit statewide historic preservation organization, and a new prospective developer have both shown interest in the property, according to Connet. </p><p>Preservation N.C. has built a reputation across the state and nation for promoting and protecting historic properties. The group has a knack for connecting decaying properties, whose dreams of development have fallen through the cracks, with developers who give the sites new life, according to Connet.</p><p>He plans to advise council members on the steps the city would need to take to transfer the property to Preservation N.C., if the board wishes to take that route.</p><p>According to an appraisal of the property submitted to the city in January, developers would be able to receive state and federal tax credits of 50 percent for a “certified rehabilitation” of the property. The state tax credit of 30 percent, however, will sunset this year.</p><p>The appraisal showed that the fair market value of the property with its buildings onsite is around $600,000 or about $730,000 for the land stripped of its buildings.</p><p>City Council will also consider a request from Beverly Hanks Realty, a new business at 512 N. Main St., to lease nine parking spaces in the city's Apple parking lot. City staff recommends moving spaces for the Hendersonville Police Department from the Apple lot to the City Hall lot, a move that would eliminate nine metered spaces which staff says are “underutilized by the public.”</p><p>The Blue Ridge Bicycle Club is also set to appear before the council to present a plan to designate Fourth Avenue as a “bicycle boulevard.” Connet is asking the council to delay action on the proposal until its April meeting.</p><p>The council meets at 5:45 p.m. in the council chambers of city hall. The public is invited. </p><p>___</p><p>Reach Weaver at emily.weaver@blueridgenow.com or 828-694-7867.</p>